The Kitchen - Great Food and Lots of It

Quang has the best time cooking shrimp.

The sisters making salad for 300 (really, 300!)

Quan on a tiring day.

It takes lots of rice to feed all of us.

Just add the broth and instant pho.

My first avocado smoothie.

Rolling rice dough around meat for breakfast.

Yes, that's Spam on the table.

Meat and vegetables with barbeque sauce...so good.

This is where the magic happens.

Eucharistic Adoration and Procession

Each Sunday in the diocese, a different parish hosts eucharistic adoration. This is where afor 24 hours, the Eucharist is on the altar for all to see, then a mass is said and then the Eucharist is processed around the church or the village. Today was the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. and they are the patrons of the cathedral, so Eucharistic adoration was hosted here.

The elders of the parish, both the women and the men, along with the altar servers, the priests, and the local band, all march, along with the choir. This video is of the choir walking past. You can hear them, then the ceremonial drum, and then the huge gong in the bell tower. The weather was cloudy and cool, perfect for us to stand outside.

The New Pre-Seminary

Last night I visited the new St. Joseph Pre-Seminary for the diocese. It is located less than a mile from the cathedral. There is one new main building and the rest have been rebuilt or refurbished. The corridors are long and cool in the hot sun, and, as you can see, the vistas are amazing. This fall the first class of students will begin studying and living here. Pre-seminary study includes philosophy (both Western and Asian), Latin, English, and theology. The students study here in preparation for their test to enter the major seminary in Ha Noi.

After being driven to the grounds by Quan and given a tour by the director, Fr. Khue, I had dinner with Fr. Khue, Monsignor Kha (Latin teacher), and Fr. An (spiritual director). The dinner was fantastic and included a Vietnamese version of beef stew prepared especially for me by the good sisters. It was a beautiful evening to dine with the light breeze coming through the refectory and good company all around.

Visiting Joseph Thien's Family

The first year I visited Phat Diem, Thien's family (Thien is now a seminarian in Ha Noi) invited Fr. Tony and I for a big party. It was fantastic. So every year I visit his father and mother. Here is our yearly picture of Thien with his parents. They're the best.


Then Thien and Thuyet (Thien's cousin) and I went to visit Thien's best friend and his family. Yup, that's all of us.

Then Thuyet and I visited Thuyet's Uncle Quyen who grows bonsai. We had tea and relaxed in the front yard. Below you can see Quyen turning over the rice harvest so that it will dry. It needs to dry for one day before it can be hulled. All in all, a fine afternoon.

Rainy Day Pictures

While yesterday was rainy, today is downright "monsoony." Since before lunch it has been raining cats and dogs (I almost stepped in a poodle!).

So I thought I'd give you some rain pictures. I have to say it's fun to walk in the warm "liquid sunshine" and not feel cold. There is also a special glow that comes across everything tropical when it has the sheen of rain.

Quyen and Making Coffee

Every morning after mass, everyone gathers to have coffee with their friends. I got to Hieu's room and spend time with different people. This morning, Quyen made the coffee. The Vietnamese way is to make drip coffee, one cup at a time. You can see the tin container that holds the ground coffee. Hot water is then put in the container and the water drips through into the glass making it really strong.

Quyen takes the first few ounces of coffee and empties it into a cup then adds sugar. He mixes this into a paste which he then mixes back in to the glass cup when it is full. He keeps filling the glass with hot water then pouring the coffee into other cups for us to drink. You see, part of the fun of having coffee with friends is to be there when it is made. Thanks, Quyen, you make a great cup of coffee.

Fun Shots from the Past Two Days

Here is Hieu playing with the deer. It's amazing how they completely ignore everyone.

After most of the art supplies was used up last Saturday, we realized we needed to get more. For $28.00 I got 70 boxes of crayons, 70 plastic cups to put them in, and 3 reams of paper. This is the family who owns the paper store. Thanks to Elephant, one of my students, for taking me.

Here are the seminarians' soccer shoes lined up after being washed.

Three of the young music students.

Our first female English lector this year...and she's still in high school. We are so proud.

You can tell it's party time because the Heineken comes out.